Welcome to Pairings

What Did It Take to Become America’s First Female Cabinet Member? The only woman in the room, and the only individual to serve in FDR’s cabinet for his entire term, arrived for her job interview on February 22, 1933 with a very ambitious list.

How does art connect us? Because humans are hard-wired to make connections, art connects us to one another, and to the whole wide world.

There's a Magic to Celebrating Milestones...and It Begins With Champagne (and Books About It)

Just like everyone else, we face choices. But the choices authors face aren't exactly like the ones you're imagining.

How does inspiration strike? For these authors, it's the random events in everyday life that sparked ideas for their novels.

Henry Miller's own Eleven Commandments of Writing helped him maintain his focus on work in progress. Can they help with yours, too?

Life provides obstacles, but you can choose what you focus on

Inspiration strikes in strange and unexpected ways. But when it doesn’t strike, there are three tricks to juice it along.

In one short paragraph author Flannery O'Connor nails down her work ethic — one that will motivate your creative soul.

Inspiration comes from many places. No use pretending it all comes out of our heads with no other stimulation. We rely on influences.